A deeply distressing incident at First Steps Learning Academy in Bangor, Sydney has triggered a formal investigation and widespread concern across the early childhood sector. On Monday afternoon, a toddler was mistakenly handed over to the wrong grandparent and taken home for several hours before being safely returned.
“I was watching the rain because it made me feel calm. I didn’t want to talk; I just wanted to listen to the drops.” This simple statement carries more than imagination—it holds intention, emotion, and agency.
This article is a call to shift the lens. To move from about to by. From adult narration to child-led storytelling. Because when children speak, they don’t just describe—they reveal.
Developed by the NSW Department of Education Early Childhood, a free webinar for Family Day Care services has been developed to explore the Transition to School Digital Statement platform.
On Christmas Eve, a childcare centre in Latrobe will close its doors—leaving 55 children, 20 staff, and over 150 waitlisted families scrambling for alternatives in a region already stretched to its limits. The announcement, delivered via email, has sparked distress, disbelief, and urgent calls for accountability.
In early childhood services across Australia, educators are often expected to stay beyond their rostered hours to complete tasks—cleaning, documentation, ratio coverage, or closing duties. But when this extra time goes unpaid, it’s not just unfair—it may be unlawful.
Recent data reported by 7NEWS Australia has revealed a concerning trend in the early childhood education sector: 1 in 10 parents have withdrawn their children from childcare services. This shift reflects growing pressures on families and raises urgent questions about affordability, trust, and systemic support.
In early childhood education, two terms often surface in compliance conversations: active supervision and in ratio. While both are essential to child safety and regulatory integrity, they serve distinct purposes—and conflating them can lead to serious oversights in practice. Let’s unpack each concept, then explore how they play out in real-world settings.
A group of companies operating childcare centres under the HEI Schools brand across Victoria and New South Wales has plunged into liquidation, leaving behind $21 million in debts and triggering widespread disruption for families, educators, and communities.
Bravehearts Day, held annually on 12 September, is a national child protection awareness initiative focused on preventing child sexual assault and promoting safe relationships. For early childhood educators, this day offers a chance to gently introduce foundational safety concepts through emotionally intelligent, developmentally appropriate practice.
When a child becomes violent in an early childhood setting, de-escalation isn’t just about calming the moment—it’s about protecting safety, preserving dignity, and responding to distress with relational intelligence. Here’s a trauma-informed, regulation-aligned guide to de-escalation strategies for violent behaviour in young children.
A: Legally, yes—an educator is considered “in ratio” as long as they are physically present and supervising the required number of children according to the age-based ratios set by the National Quality Framework (NQF). But practically? That’s where the system starts to unravel.
